Summer of Joy

The Heart of Hollyhill #3

by Ann H. Gabhart

The summer of 1964 certainly was eventful, but it's nothing compared to what's coming to the Brooke family and to Hollyhill, Kentucky. David finally gets up the nerve to pop the question to Leigh and wedding plans are in the making. But the past is coming to call on many in Hollyhill, threatening to destroy the relationships that everyone thought were so strong. Two people--one David thought was gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of--are making their way to the small town and promise trouble.
This complex and well-written story is the perfect conclusion to the Hollyhill story. With true-to-life family drama, refreshing humor, and lovable characters, Summer of Joy will delight readers.

Genres: Christian Fiction, Christian, Fiction, Historical Fiction, Historical, Inspirational, Contemporary

353 pages, Kindle Edition

First published February 15, 2008

About the author

Ann H. Gabhart grew up on a farm in Kentucky. At the age of ten, she started dreaming of writing stories others would want to read. That dream has come true as she's published over thirty-five novels. She and her husband have three children married to three beautiful in-law children who have gifted her nine grandchildren. She still lives on a farm not far from where she grew up. She loves playing with her grandkids, walking with her dogs, reading, and, of course, writing. Her Shaker books, set in her fictional Shaker village of Harmony Hill in the 1800's, are popular with readers. The Outsider was a Christian Fiction Book Award Finalist in 2009. Her Heart of Hollyhill books are Small Town, America books set in the 1960's. Angel Sister, a Rosey Corner book set during the Great Depression, was a best-seller and was followed up by two more stories about the Merritt sisters. She keeps her stories in Kentucky and has enjoyed going to the Kentucky Appalachian Mountains for some stories including These Healing Hills and Along a Storied Trail. And if you like mysteries, you can try her Hidden Springs Mysteries published under the author name, A.H. Gabhart. Visit Ann's website http://annhgabhart.com to find out more. There you can sign up for her newsletter where she does giveaways several times a year.

Reviews

[Ann Gabhart · Rating 5 out of 5]

This was the last of my Hollyhill books about Jocie and her family and friends. A little romance, a little mystery, and a lot of people coming knocking on doors to let some secrets out into the light. Quite a year of adventure for Jocie from The Scent of Lilacs through Orchard of Hope and ending in Summer of Joy. I had great fun writing about Hollyhill. So much so, that when the books didn't get a audio book contract through the publishers, I did the narration on them myself. That took me back to Hollyhill and if you like audio books, you might enjoy visiting my little fictional town by listening to me read you a story. Or three.

[Alicia · Rating 5 out of 5]

This book had the same charm as the other two Hollyhill books, and I loved returning to these characters and setting. I'm not ready for the series to end! I'd love to read about grown-up Jocie finding her happily ever after :)

[Nana · Rating 5 out of 5]

Jocie Brooke is a freshman in high school, her older sister a new mom, and her father is smitten by a younger woman who appears to share his feelings. David is ready to ask Leigh to marry him, but embarrassed about the small size of his mother's diamond. Leigh wasn't worrying over a diamond. She was more concerned about David's feelings about being older than she. Other challenges are about to veil the size of the diamond. Shadows from the past and a newcomer to town become the clouds of the future.

This is the third book in a series set back in the 1960s in a small town called Hollyhill. The Brooke family is the focus of these stories, and the activities in small town America are typical of the time period. Prejudices still remain and gossip is a common activity. The setting is quaint and the characters are varied and colorful. The development of the characters throughout this series and in this concluding book is commendable. Ann Gabhart has a wonderful talent for creating a great cast of characters and making the reader a part of Hollyhill and sharing all of the activities therein.

If you're looking for an engaging, satisfying and unpredictable story of family and love, mystery and intrigue, wit and comedic events, Summer of Joy will satisfy your quest. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, and felt very much a part of the story as I traveled back in time to my own high school years along with Jocie. Grab a copy of this book and relax with a pot of tea. You're in for some great surprises once again. Ann Gabhart is a specialist at creating a warm and sensitive novel.

Disclaimer: I received a copy of this book from Revell in exchange for my honest opinion. All opinions expressed are my own, and no monetary compensation was received for this review.

[Maureen Timerman · Rating 5 out of 5]

I so enjoyed me return visit to Hollyhill, KY, and the Brook family. In fact, I hated to leave!
This is the summer of 1964, Vietnam War time, no cell phones, a quieter time, but hard time. David Brook is still running the newspaper, and being the Pastor at Mt. Pleasant. He is also hoping to have a new start in life and include Leigh.
Things are still active at the Brook home, with Aunt Love, Jocie, David, Tabathia, and sweet little Stephen Lee. I can just picture this house; it is not large, but so filled with love. Makes you wonder how Dee-Dee could have left, even for the greener pastures. Life is funny at times, and now some of the things you think you have gotten past, and left behind, have started to return.
There are some so hysterical things that happen you will have a hard time not laughing out loud. We still have loveable Wes, and his Jupiter life, what a blessing he has been in Jocie’s life. Zelda keeps everyone on their toes, and she ends up wanting to hide under her desk, but as Zelda does recover, she is back at managing everyone’s life, and sometimes it is good that she does.
We are going to face some evil, or misguided people, in the form of a teacher, and some parents. Will this family be able to weather all of this and end up with life back to some kind of normalcy? Once you open the cover, you will not want to leave. Enjoy!

I received this book through the Publisher Revell and their Blogger Tour, and was not required to give a positive review.

[Lynnette · Rating 3 out of 5]

Not a bad story for a romance. After I started the book I came to log it on Goodreads and discovered it's #3 in a trilogy, but I went ahead and read it anyway. There are a couple of events mentioned in this book about which I will never know all the details because I don't plan to go back and read the first two, but it stood well enough on its own. I do find the title misleading, as the story never even enters summer. And while there is joy, there is also a fair amount of disturbing occurrences throughout the tale.

[Rebecca Jordan · Rating 5 out of 5]

Enjoyed this series and am catching up on my ratings and reviews of Ann's books I read in last couple of years.

[Jennifer · Rating 5 out of 5]

The Hollyhill series has been the best novels I've read in a long time. The characters were wonderful and easy to love! The Brooke family and friends faced lots of trials and over and over again you got to see God's grace and love. Very encouraging!

[Mary Vogelsong · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer of Joy is the third book in the Hollyhill Series trilogy by Ann Gabhart. The principal character of the series is Jocie Brooke, a young teen in 1964 small-town Kentucky. Her single dad is bi-vocational, working as a newspaper editor and a minister. But Jocie’s world includes lots of characters, as you would come to know in most small towns: a busy-body gossip, Jocie’s adopted grandfather who tells fanciful stories of being from Jupiter, a jealous and mentally unbalanced teacher, Jocie’s mother who abandoned her, Jocie’s sister who is the mother of a bi-racial child, a caring woman who could become Jocie’s stepmother, and the other people who become the mortar to the bricks of our existence.
Will Jocie’s dad get up the courage to propose to a younger woman? Will the busy-body’s interference drive away Jocie’s adopted grandfather? Will Jocie make peace with not being loved by her mother? Will the town accept her unwed sister’s half-black child? Will Jocie’s teacher fail her out of spite? Will God make a way of escape when Jocie’s life is endangered?
There’s plenty going on in Hollyhill, and Gabhart spins a story with comfortable familiarity told from a Christian perspective. The audiobook is a treat, with Gabhart as the narrator.
If you enjoy clean romance and drama, Summer of Joy will meet your expectations. I enjoyed it so much that I’m now looking forward to the first two books in the series, Scent of Lilacs and Orchard of Hope.

[Cathy B · Rating 5 out of 5]

Lots of love, faith and hope!

I loved all the books in this series. The 1st (really all of them) really exhibits a lot of faith. Faith in God, faith in mankind, and the faith it takes to help.gets through life. The 2nd book not only has that same faith but is full of hope, for the future, for the people in the town and for the kind of love we share with each other. This last book shows the same hope and faith but the main theme I saw was love. Love for God, love for another human being, love for someone you didn't really want to love, and also a desperation for love. All 3 books were amazing but I think this was my favorite. I'm a sucker for happy endings. However, it did end in a way where there could be more books added into the series and I truly hope there will be more! I love the characters and would love to see where they end up further down the road.

[Crystal · Rating 5 out of 5]

In the stunning conclusion of the Welcome to Hollyhill trilogy, Ann Gabhart does not disappoint. While a good portion of the book is a wrapup of the previous books, there are some surprising twists in Summer of Joy that I did not see coming. A new teacher comes to town and makes freshman English unbearable for Jocie. Mr. Hammond, a writer in New York and Cincinatti, has plans of his own while in Hollyhill and they are not necessarily for the good. Adrienne makes a surprise appearance in this finale. Will her unexpected arrival disrupt the plans that David and Leigh have for their future? How will Jocie absorb the arrival of the woman who never wanted her? In a page-turning finale all of these questions and more are answered.

[Kelly · Rating 4 out of 5]

I enjoyed Summer of Joy by Ann H Gabhart. It is a heartwarming, charming story of family, small town community, and Christianity. I see that this book is third in The Heart of Hollyhill series but I think it is easily read as a stand-alone book. I didn't read the other 2 books first. The author gives enough of the background stories that I did not feel lost in the details of the plot. In the town of Hollyhill, there are plenty of unique locals, who act like locals do in small towns--they take an interest in each other's lives, pitching in to help when the need arises. I especially liked Wes and his stories about Jupiter.

[Barbara · Rating 3 out of 5]

This was my favorite one in the series of life in Hollyhill and the Brooke family. It nicely told a new story while wrapping up others that carried over from books 1 and 2. Jocie is surviving high school. David and Leigh’s relationship continues to develop and a few new characters are introduced.

[Beverly · Rating 3 out of 5]

This rating would be 3 1/2 stars. A fast but very predictable and kind of over the top ending with some of the characters. However glad to have completed the series. I wouldn’t have been happy not knowing how it all ended.

[Phillip Michael · Rating 5 out of 5]

Would give this series a 6 star rating!

I am an avid reader and have loved all of Ann Gabhart’s books that I have read. The Heart of Hollyhill series was excellent and I would have given it 6 stars if I could!

[Jenny Huening · Rating 5 out of 5]

Christian Fiction

This series was excellent. Must be read in order to understand completely all the characters. I fell in love with Jocie who was the main character in all three books.

[Karen · Rating 3 out of 5]

A little too goody-two shoes for me. All neatly wrapped up. But a cute novel.

[Janet Friesner · Rating 4 out of 5]

This was a great series. All three books were extremely good. Story of a pastor and his family. Highly recommended.

[Emily McClure · Rating 4 out of 5]

I loved this series! I always enjoy that time period, in general, and Ann made me feel like I was right there in Holly Hill. I miss it and all the people there already!

[Pam · Rating 5 out of 5]

A great summer trilogy

Each book in this trilogy has been wonderful, joyful and uplifting. Makes you remember small towns and their zany characters.
Such great summer reads!

[Jen · Rating 5 out of 5]

Fabulous!

This was the best novel, I want more of the Brookes family. I was so enthralled I could put this down. Through laughter and tears.

[Dana McReynolds · Rating 4 out of 5]

Finishing up this series and sad to say goodbye to these characters. Truly should continue on like the Mitford series and I would read every bit!

[Kathy · Rating 5 out of 5]

So sorry to come to the end of Jocie and Hollyhill. Really enjoyed all 3 books.

[Deb Lester · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann H. Gabhart's book Summer of Joy is finally back in print with a gorgeous new cover that embraces the 1960's setting, when a record player and 45 were a teenager's idea of a good time. Gabhart's portrayal of the Brooke family is one readers will easily relate to. This is the story of a family that withstands many trials and tribulations, but still comes out on top, with God's unconditional love and a lot of understanding. Gabhart writes about this Kentucky family in a way that will make readers feel like they are members of their own small town communities. It's about real people, with real struggles. A great novel!

What I liked:

Ann H. Gabhart is one of those author's that always puts a smile on my face. Her writing, no matter which genre it might come from, is always easy to relate to. I like books where the characters seem like real people, a friend down the street, or someone I might see in the grocery store and the Heart of Hollyhill series makes me feel that way. Gabhart is from Kentucky, as I am and she writes about the small town settings and familiar sites that strike a cord with me. I always love showing my support of writers from my own home state and it's so easy with Ann H. Gabhart because her books are so realistic and enjoyable.

The Brooke family is like any other small town family with a few exceptions. You have to remember how things were during the setting of this book. It's Kentucky in the 1960's. The town of Hollyhill is small and close knit. It's during the Vietnam War and racial equality is still far from being the norm. Divorces happen but they aren't an everyday occurrence.

At the head of the family you have, David, a divorced preacher and editor of the local newspaper. His teenage daughter Jocie, who is coming of age in the 60's. His other daughter, Tabitha who has recently returned home with her bi-racial three month old son. Leigh, David's much younger fiancee. Aunt Love, the glue that holds everything together, and a plethora of other characters. With continually changing viewpoints and narrators, this book can be a little confusing, but readers get to see a glimpse of life through the eyes of many different people. From the good times to the bad times and everything in between. I found it original and refreshing while also having a deep scope for the trials of the times.

This book has a little bit of everything from love, to hardship and back again. There is a lot of humor and definitely some moments that will bring readers to tears, but the I think the true enjoyment of this book comes from the Christian message and God's unconditional love that is shown throughout. These family members are facing some terrible situations, from Cancer to stalking and the ridicule of others, but they still trust in God and rely on each other. I loved the sense of realness to this book. It wasn't at all far fetched to believe this family existed. Or to see how their faith saw them through some great trials. Gabhart has a way with writing characters that makes them become a part of the reader. This one is a bit unconventional for a Christian Fiction book, but I think that's part of it's overall charm.

What I didn't like:

The changing viewpoints took a bit of getting used to. But once I got the hang of it, I really liked seeing into the minds of each of these amazing characters. I liked the introspection and the glimpse into their everyday lives and what they faced on a daily basis.

Bottom Line:

This is an unconventional story with a really realistic family. I know... that doesn't sound like it makes sense but it does. It isn't the average Christian Fiction title most people pick up, but it is so easy to believe in these people and become invested in what happens to them. Ann H. Gabhart is a writer who understands that relating to the characters is a big part of what makes a book go from good to great!

[Claudia · Rating 5 out of 5]

Summer of Joy by Ann H. Gabhart - A Book Review
When I was working time to read for pleasure was in short supply, so I tended to play it safe with authors I knew and loved. One of the best things about retirement is having the time to meet and spend time with authors that are new to me. I was thrilled to spend time with Ann Gabhart in the pages of her book, Summer of Joy. Now I was a little concerned about reading book three of The Heart of Hollyhill series without having read books one and two, but there was no need to be. The story was easy to follow and enjoy, with just enough references to the previous books to provide necessary information and to motivate me to read those books in the future.
Hollyhill, Kentucky, the setting of this story, is a small town where everyone knows what is going on with everyone else. In the 1960s it is still a town where children can safely roam free (well most of the time). It is also a town where emotions and secrets run deep, and where they can be brought to the surface by a returning former resident as well as some new characters in town. It is a town that protects and nurtures its own, and those it adopts as its own. It is peopled by those who know how to forgive, and those who don’t, and by some who don’t even realize the need. It is a town slowly changing as the world around it changes, beginning to see the similarities more than the differences among its people, but also experiencing the accompanying growing pains. It is a town where people are working to get a right and accurate view of themselves and of God.
Character development is one of the things that Ann Gabhart does best. She fills Hollyhill with a cast of quirky characters: those that are down to earth, those that have been earthed (You’ll have to read the book to understand that one.), those with their heads in the heavens, and those whose heads may be just a bit scrambled. As I read the thought kept coming to mind that fans of Jan Karon’s Mitford series would love Summer of Joy. David, pastor of Mt. Pleasant church, and Leigh’s romance is reminiscent of Father Tim and Cynthia’s. Wesley Green’s stories of life on Jupiter made me want to return to Mitford and visit with Uncle Billy and some of the other eccentric characters who reside there. They also made me want to get the first two books in Gabhart’s Hollyhill series so that I could join Wes and his young friend and surrogate granddaughter, Josie, David’s teenage daughter, on their adventures.
I believe that Summer of Joy will appeal to a wide audience. Young adult readers will identify with Jocie and her coming of age story. Young wives and mothers will be touched by Tabitha and Leigh’s stories, and the love they have for those they nurture along with the insecurities they feel. Older readers will enjoy reminiscing about a time gone by, and will be touched by the wisdom as well as the frailties that come with age. All will enjoy the ebb and flow as Gabhart builds and releases tension as her story unfolds. Tensions are bound to be present when the first wife, who abandoned her husband and young daughter, is headed back to town, as her former husband and his fiancé make plans. They are bound to be present when a teacher takes an immediate dislike to one of his students, and when that same teacher sets his sights on her father’s fiancé. Tensions mount when someone oversteps her bounds and sets off a series of events related to a past her co-worker prefers to forget. Tensions will mount as you read this book, the kind that readers love, the kind that keep them reading.
Thank you to Revell, the publisher, for sending me a copy of Summer Joy for my honest opinion of the book.

[Doreen · Rating 3 out of 5]

This is book three in “The Heart of Hollyhill” series. While book three can stand alone, it would be a much richer, fuller story if you had read the first two, I believe. I was able to figure out the basics of relationships but I would have enjoyed seeing how relationships like Wes & Jocie’s and David & Leigh’s developed.

The strength of this book is in the characters. The main family was as real as yours or mine with all of the quirks and flaws, drama and joys. They’ve seen plenty of hard times but now it seems that joy is just around the corner. Things are coming together for them. Tabitha and her baby Stephen Lee are home. David is serious about his girlfriend, Leigh. Aunt Love dotes on the baby.

While the point of view switches throughout the book, much of it is written from Jocie’s perspective. Jocie is 14 and keeps a journal and helps out at her dad’s newspaper. She and Wes, her Jupiterian adopted grandfather, have a strong, beautiful relationship. I really enjoyed their conversations and their sweet, fierce affection for each other.

Zella helps out at the newspaper as well. She is kind of a nosy, busybody. The funniest part of the story occurs when one of her “questionable” acts comes full circle back to her. Hilarious!

This book is more of a slice of small town life. There isn’t a lot of action. It reminded me a bit of Mitford with Father Tim and Cynthia, Uncle Billy, Emma, etc. While there isn’t a lot of action, a lot of themes get touched on in this book and throughout the series….divorce and remarriage, grief, teenage pregnancy, biracial relations, abandonment, stalkers, building your life on false foundations, reconciliation, forgiveness. None of these are treated in depth. But it feels very appropriate and realistic and would make great discussion starters if a mom and daughter wanted to read it together.

It was a nice change of pace reading a book partially from a teenager’s perspective. This book would appeal equally to teens and adults I feel who are looking for a nice story about people and relationships set in a small town. It was very enjoyable.

Thank you to Revell and Netgalley for providing me with a free copy of this book for the purpose of this review.

[Karen · Rating 4 out of 5]

Everything always happens to 14-year-old Jocie Brook. Tornadoes, Fires, something's always happening to her. Abandoned by her mother, stubborn, tenacious, know-it-all Jocie just attracts trouble. Like the time she ran away and her adopted grandfather, Wes, had a tree fall on him trying to save her from a tornado. Or the fact that her Freshman English teacher seems to hate her for absolutely no reason. Then what happens when her entire world is rocked by the arrivals of two unexpected visitors.

One thing I thought was really neat about this book was the time period. So many times you either have modern day or 1940 or earlier and we totally skip the 60+ years in between. Summer of Joy is set in 1964 in a small town in Kentucky. I think this books describes very well small town life of that era. How everyone knows everyone's business. The tension between the integration of African-Americans into the everyday life of a small southern town.

I think this is a good story that will appeal to a wide range of ages. The main character, Jocie, is a 14-year-old girl, but the secondary characters will pull you in as well. This is the third book in a series; however I don't think you need the other two, although I am intrigued to go back and see how the stories weave together. I also don't think Ms. Gabhart is done with this series so I would be looking for another installation in the HollyHill series.

On a side note, there was one subject I thought Ms. Gabhart handled very, very well, and that was breast cancer. A side character, who shall remain nameless so as not to give anything away, is diagnosed with breast cancer and to see what was not available to women in the 1960's will make you extremely thankful to be alive today.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from the publisher through Bethany House Publisher's book review bloggers program. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255 <http://www.access.gpo.gov/nara/cfr/wa... : “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.

[Victor Gentile · Rating 5 out of 5]

Ann H. Gabhart in her new book, “Summer Of Joy” Book Three in The Heart of Hollyhill series published by Revell returns us to the life of Jocie Brooke.

From the Back Cover: As summer draws to a close Jocie’s world seems serene–but is it just the calm before a storm?

Unbeknownst to Jocie Brooke and her family, two people are making their way to the small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky. One everyone thought was gone for good and the other no one’s ever heard of. Still, one thing is sure–they promise trouble. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy strong relationships that everyone has simply taken for granted.

The summer of 1964 may be winding down, but the controversy in this little community where nothing ever seems to change is just heating up.

Bestselling author Ann Gabhart invites you to Hollyhill for a story both exciting and enduring that will stick with you long after you turn the last page.

One of the states that I have always wanted to visit is Kentucky. When I finally get to travel there I will see the horse farms and all the other wonderful sights and then I will go and find Hollyhill see if there is a Bed and Breakfast and hang out there for a week. I like the Brooke family. I like the town. I like Ms. Gabhart’s writing. I like the plot which I am not going to tell you about except that these people coming to town are about to upset everyone. Ms. Gabhart has written a wonderful story full of interesting characters that we come to know and love as we read through the book. Ms. Gabhart does a great job of making us feel that we are there in Hollyhill and living the events rather than just reading about them. I am sorry that this series is ending. I would really like more stories about the Brookes and everyone else in town.

Disclosure of Material Connection: I received this book free from Revell Publishers. I was not required to write a positive review. The opinions I have expressed are my own. I am disclosing this in accordance with the Federal Trade Commission’s 16 CFR, Part 255: “Guides Concerning the Use of Endorsements and Testimonials in Advertising.”

[Tamara Tilley · Rating 4 out of 5]

4 out of 5 stars

SUMMER OF JOY by Ann H. Gabhart is a unique book that touches on several genres. From small town life, to divorce, to the feeling of failure, to forgiveness, to romance, even a touch of suspense, SUMMER OF JOY was definitely an interesting read.

Jocie Brooke is a child of optimism. Though she’s already experienced heartbreak at a young age, she refuses to allow the negative circumstances in life to get her down. Since her mother left town when she was younger, Jocie has been fiercely protective of her father. When her sister returns to town unmarried, with an infant on her hip, Jocie again chooses to look at the good not the bad. Knowing her father is on the verge of a proposal, Jocie couldn’t be happier, feeling like her family has turned a corner and only the best is yet to come. Though Leigh is several years younger than her father, she definitely meets with Jocie’s approval. But, trouble is ahead that none of them could’ve imagine.

SUMMER OF JOY has a bevy of secondary characters that are closely intertwined with Jocie, leading to various storylines. There is Wes, Jocie’s grandfather figure that claims to be from Jupiter, Zella, a quirky character that assists at the newspaper Jocie’s father produces when he’s not in the pulpit, to Mr. Hammond, her creepy teacher that uses intimidation tactics on her while having a warped sense of connection with Leigh.

All these and more make SUMMER OF JOY a story that celebrates the fact that all families have a sense of dysfunction. But, from that dysfunction comes the things that bond and unite a family together.

Though this was book three in The Heart of Hollyhill series, I was able to read it as a standalone novel without feeling like I was missing out on something. There are a few references to things that probably took place in book one and two, but it did not detract from or confuse my while reading SUMMER OF JOY.

This book is a re-release from 2008

Book provided for review purposes.

[Jalynn Patterson · Rating 5 out of 5]

About the Book:

For Jocie Brooke, the summer of 1964 certainly was eventful, but it's nothing compared to what's coming to Hollyhill, Kentucky, and the Brooke family next. The past is coming to call, threatening to destroy the relationships that everyone thought were so strong. Two people--one thought to be gone for good and the other no one's ever heard of--are making their way to the small town. And it promises trouble for everyone.


This complex and beautifully written story is the perfect conclusion to The Heart of Hollyhill series. With true-to-life family drama, refreshing humor, and characters readers have come to love like dear friends, "Summer of Joy" will delight Gabhart's fans.

About the Author:

Ann H. Gabhart is the bestselling author of several Shaker novels--The Outsider, The Believer, The Seeker, The Blessed, and The Gifted--as well as several other historical novels, including Scent of Lilacs, Orchard of Hope, Angel Sister, Small Town Girl, and Words Spoken True. She lives with her husband a mile from where she was born in rural Kentucky. Find out more at www.annhgabhart.com.

My Review:

The small town of Hollyhill, Kentucky, has a very simple traditional life. Everyone knows whats going on at all times, even if it's private business. Thoughts and Ideas for their yearly Christmas Play starts like clock work during the summer months. When it seems the winds of change start to blow, the folks of Hollyhill wont hear of it. Jocie plans to change that, by changing up the Christmas play a bit.



Though it's months away, Jocie starts telling them of her many ideas. And of course like always,they turn them down for the old traditions. Jocie along with her family and friends set out to prove them all wrong, to show what can be done if you change it up a bit. She takes everyone on an amazing summer adventure, one that will change everything.



**Disclosure** This book was sent to me free of charge for my honest review from Revell.

[Christian Fiction Addiction · Rating 5 out of 5]

The lovable Jocie Brooke and her quirky cast of family and friends return for a final time in the heartwarming third book of the Heart of Hollyhill series, "Summer of Joy". The book starts off at a bit of a slow burn, easing readers back into Jocie's world and the ups and downs of her life. But while at first the book seemed set at a slower pace than the first two in the series, I soon became wrapped up again in the drama of the character's lives. I really enjoyed watching Jocie mature over the course of the book and the whole series as she deepens her understanding of who God is and what her place in the world will be. Though her actions are occasionally misguided, her heart is in the right place. So as "Summer of Joy" progressed, I felt quite the righteous indignation when she began being bullied by her teacher no less! Her heart of forgiveness is inspiring to see, both for her teacher and later her mother, and I was reminded how children can so often set the example for those in the older generations! The flourishing romance between Jocie's dad and with Leigh provides for many lighthearted but also tender moments, and I am certain readers will be pleased with the eventual outcome. This third novel throws a bit of mystery and suspense into the mix, and I really liked how Gabhart handled those scenes as well, with a building sense of unease that permeates the pages. All in all, this final book brought everything full circle, yet left me longing for more of Jocie's story. Will there perhaps be another novel? Maybe. Or perhaps we will be left to imagine who Jocie grows up to be and what the future holds for her and her family.

This book and indeed the whole series will remain on my heart long after they have been placed on their permanent place on my shelves. 4.5 out of 5 stars.

Book has been provided courtesy of Baker Publishing Group and Graf-Martin Communications, Inc. Available at your favourite bookseller from Revell, a division of Baker Publishing Group.